The Commission on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (C15) was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics in 1966 to promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in the general field of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
Since the beginning of the last century, founded on the discovery of the quantum character of light energy to allow the description of the emission spectra of the black body and, the proposed corpuscular behavior of light to explain the photoelectric effect, relevant advances were produced to give a new vision of nature. This new image conducted finally to the formulation of the Quantum Mechanics theory. Different atomic models were proposed trying to combine classical and quantum mechanical concepts. Short time before that the duality character of matter was postulated according to the symmetry of nature, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) was established in 1922 in Brussels. The Commission on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (C15; firstly denominated Commission of Atomic and Molecular Physics and Spectroscopy) was established by IUPAP in 1966 to promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in the general field of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
The C15 commission organizes two main conferences under the IUPAP support. They are the International Conference on Atomic Physics (ICAP) and the International Conference on Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions (ICPEAC), which are held in an alternating years. The 33rd edition of ICPEAC will be held in Ottawa, Canada, in 2023, and the 28th edition of ICAP in London, UK, in 2024.
The interest of ICAP covers different quantum systems, including the topology in atomic systems, quantum gases, quantum computation and communication, quantum simulation and quantum annealing, fundamental tests and precision measurements, quantum optics and quantum nanophotonics, intense fields and ultrafast science, Rydberg and artificial atoms and molecules, atomic clocks and quantum metrology, cold molecules and out of equilibrium quantum systems.
The focus of ICPEAC is the presentation and discussion of new research in the field of collisions involving photons, electrons, ions, atoms, molecules, clusters, surfaces, and exotic particles. The latest advances of the domain include ultrafast dynamics at the femto- or attosecond scale, ion-induced radiation damage in particular of biomolecules, atomic spectroscopy and molecular physics of antimatter, free electron lasers, particle acceleration generated by high-power lasers and ultracold collisions.
Every year, the C15 commission recognizes the outstanding research contributions of young scientists through the Early Career Scientist Prize, which is awarded following a strict selection of nominees from all around the world. This year the prize will be presented during the ICPEAC in Ottawa, Canada.
Other conferences on specific subjects, like the biannual International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions, are also organized by IUPAP.
Mission/Mandate
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To promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in the general field of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics including:
- The properties of charged and neutral atoms and molecules;
- The dynamics and these entities, including interaction with electromagnetic radiation and with electric and magnetic fields and the results of collisions;
- Applications of optical and laser techniques to the manipulation of atomic and molecular species;
- The application of atomic and molecular physics to technology.
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To recommend for Union sponsorship international conferences which qualify for support under Union regulations.
To initiate such conferences as their need arises from the evolution of the Commission field.
To assist in the organization of such conferences when practical. To ensure the compatibility of international conferences in its field and to discourage clashes and incompatibility of dates.
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To promote the free circulation of scientists; to assist conference organizers in ensuring such free circulation and in resolving potential infringements.
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To organize where feasible the award of medals or other testimonials of excellence in its field.
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To publish where feasible newsletters, circulars, occasional books, journals or handbooks in its area.
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To maintain liaison with other IUPAP Commissions, with the Commissions or Committees of other Unions or of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) or other scientific organizations, with a view to collaborating and cooperating in sponsoring joint conferences and to participating in joint projects when need arises.
In particular to maintain close liaison with the General Commissions of IUPAP (SUNAMCO, Physics Education and Development), so as to ensure suitable input from its field into these physics-wide activities.
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To make available to each General Assembly of the Union a summary of activities and progress in its field since the previous Assembly.
Additional Information
Website for the Commission on Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
Please send updated information and corrections to the IUPAP Administrator.
